Pneumatic pumping apparatus.



A. E. GHODZKO.

l PNEUMATIG PUMPING APPARATUS. I APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 29, 1909. BENBWBD JAN. as, 1913.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. E. oHoDz'Ko.

' PNEUMATIG PUMPING APPARATUS. AAPPLIUATION PIL/BD JUNE 29, 1909. RENEWED JAN. 28, 1918.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET z.

x1 A r gw?, f. m ,d L

[Il III! l A, E ioHonzKo. PNEUMATIG PUMPING APBARATU APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 29, 1909. RENEWED JIL 28, 1913. l @71,8785

Patented sept.- 2, 1913 ADAM CHODZKO, 0F lLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

INU'ATIC PUMPINQ APARATUS.

LSpeciicatiun of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Application met! June 29. V19m, Serial No. 505,067. Renewed January 28, 1913. Serial No. 744,777..

To all whom it may. @ofrecer-"n Be it. known that I, vADL-tzu EDWARD CHonzKo, a citizen of the United States, residingat Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented `n ew and useful Improvements in Inemnatlc Pumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. A

The present invention relates to that class of pneumatic pumping apparatus wherein water is raised by the expansive force of compressed air, said 'air beingin immediate contact with the water.

The main object of the present invention isto obtain in a pneumatic pumping apparatas of this class a condition of maximum the same distance in a single stage.

i My invention provides for obtaining maxeiciency.

A. further object of the invention is. t0 provide for the use of comparatively low. pressures in pumping irrespective of the height, thereby economizing not only -in power but in the Weight and-cost of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a' unit or sectionall construction which can be added to as desired, so that the same elementsfcan be used for pumping apparatus for any height bytaking'the :proper number of elements.

Other' objects of the invention will appear hereinafter. Y

Mathematical investigation of the work done in raising' Water by pneumatic lift demonstrates that the Working etliciency is greater with a low pressure and a corresponding low lift than' with a high pressure' and' a corresponding high lift. In other Words,'a greater mechanical eciency is obtained by lifting-the water pneumatically in a series of stages than by lifting the Water ilnum working efiiciency by using under all circumstances very moderate values of the lift and of the air' pressure, by dividing up the total lift regardless of its height into a number of equal and separate sections or cells Whose length may be taken as small as desired and the Water in transit from the source of supply tothe point of delivery passing in succession through all of the cells, so that each cell receives the Water from the next one below-and delivers it into the next one above and has an independent supply of compressedcair and an independent dis.- charge of Waste air, the pressure .of compressed` air being only that required for the operation o f one cell, whatever the total lift may be. Since the same operation, proceeds in each cell, the eiiiciency of the apparatus as a whole is the same as the individual eiiiciency of each cell.

My invention is applicable to a. pumping vation of a portion of a mine shaft-,pump embodying the invention. Fig. 3 is va sec-- tlon. on the line 'm3- ma in Fig. 2. v Fig. 4 is anA enlarged section on the line mt-xt' in Fig. 5, of a portion of the apparatus Vat the ]o1nt between two successive sections. Fig.

5 is a section on the line :v5- x5 in Fig. 4f.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line mii-4m in Fig. 7 of the valve device controlling ad-v mission of air' to the cell. Fig. 7 is a section on the line :e1-m7 in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side elevation; and Fig. 9 is an end elevat-ion, partly in section, of the upper part of a well embodying the invention and a lifting head therefor.' Fig. l0 is a vertical section of adjacent portions of two sections of the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a-'transverse section on the line :vnin Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a transverse lsection on the line. m1255212 in Fig. 10. Fig.

13 is a" transverse section on the line @QW-w13 1n Fig. 10. Fig. 14 1s a transverse section on the line :vn-:1:14 in Fig. l0. Fig'.

15 issa vertical section. oftheair admission valve for this form of the invention. Fig. 16 is a plan of said valves The principle of the inventionniay be described with reference to'jFig. l, where 1 designates the body of' water or source of supply from Which'water is tbe4 raised by the pumping apparatus." The 'apparatus comprises aserieszforunits or a plurality of cells a, b, c, d, etc., fconnected in series. Each- ,i

cell comprises anT-ppwardlyextending educ-"-L tien leg 2 and" a C lovvnvvardly extending submergence le lr and extending dgnvn'wardlyl about. half the height of the educ-tion leg. The eductiin "7 leg of the lowermostcell a opens at its lower end into the bodyva'of water l which takes the place suhmergence' leg for that connected at its upper end tothe uppe end of the education leg 'Uf cell, and the eduction leg of `this and of each succeeding cell Z), c, etc., opens at its upper or delivery end into the subinergence leg 3 of the succeeding cell. The eduction leg of the uppermost cell forms the n'al delivery lfor the water. rEhe independent air supply for the respective cells `is provided by a pipe 5 having branches 6 leading to 'the bottoni of the respective eduction legs of the series ofy cells and an' independentor separate discharge Tis provided at the top of each cell, ythat is yto say, at the top ofthe educ-tion and sulnn'er'gen'ce legs:

rl`he general' operation vis as follows: The

lower cell is assumed to be immersed in the' body of water 1 to an extentsuilicient to cause the water to rise in the eduction leg to about the level of the bottom portion ofy mixture therewith decreases' the specific gravity of the contained fluid lto an extent sui'licicnt to enable the body-of water 1 on the outside to raise the column'of water in the said eduction leg to the'top of said leg andto cause it to flow over into the submergence'leg of the second' cell o, the water passing from this submergence leg of the second cell by gravity toj the lower partof the eduction leg of the second cell to fill the same to about the level of the bottom of the subn'iergence leg of the next cell. At the saine time the compressed air that has beenrising with the water has eX- panded so that its effective pressure is yentirely spent vwhen the mixture of lair and water reaches the top of leg 2.; the expanded or dead air beingl exhausted into the atmosphere, the water alone falling into cell rllheair supplied from the pipe 5 throughl the branch G tothefbottom of the eduction leg Qlof the cell I) then operates in similar manner to raise the water to the top' of cell b andto lill the submergence ciple some difiiculties arise, as follows: Be-

yse

Work under considerable lvariations of height in the source of supply..

In applying the invention to a mine shaft Where there in general sufficient room for the-provision of an air supply pipe external to the column of lifting cells the constructions shown iny Figs. 2 and 7 may be adopted. 'In 'said figures 11' designates a support consisting of tivo rails or sills eXtending in the shaft in position to support the 76 cell and 'the air supply. The lifting apparatus is constructed in sections which 'are detachable so as to provide for unit con-y struct-ion and foi" convenience, each unit` of the construction embodying parts of two successive cells. Each structural unit or section of the apparatus comprises a tubular member 3 consisting of a flat rounded shell of sheet iron having heads 14, 15 at the lower and upper ends thereof, a pipe 12 ex- 4 tending through the lower head 1 4 and extending nearly to the upper head 15 and 'an-' other pipe y'12 extending downwardly 'through the upper head '15 and nearly to the' lower head 14e. Successive units or sections are placed on top of one another, so that the 'top of each pipe "l2" of any unit communi- Cates with the bottoni of the `pipe 12'of the next upper unit. For l'naking this connection any suitable 'separable vjoint may be used, .35 for example, that shown in Fig. l consist-I ing of two glands 1G, 17, surrounding 'the v'tubes 12,'12, packing 18 within said glands over the jointyand pivoted clamp bolts 19 adapted to drawy the glands together to '100 compress the packing at the joint. lVhen i the partsare assembled as stated the pipe 12 -of each unit, together with the pipe 1Q of the'next higher unit, constitutes the educ-l Vtion leg of a cell, the tubular member 3 105 of the said next higher unit constituting they submergence leg of said cell. The tubular members 3 ma;v bc si.ip3 oi"ted onthe sills l1l by cross bars Q0 secured to said sills and angle irons 21 fastened to the said tuln1la1,i 10" members and resting on the cross bars. Air outlets 7 are provided in heads 15.4

The air supply pipe) is supported. on ,the sills 11 by straps 2l fastened to said sills and extending under the said pipe. The branch air pipe G comunlnicating with the pipe leads to a Y-fitting 2G formed as a chamber on the bottom of the luz-ttorn' plate 1l of the tubular member 2l. said chamber haring two extensions lo, extending l'e- 120 'sp'ectivelyv to'lhe right and leftot the t-ubular member, so as to provide for alternate connection to successive sections. it being UllllSftood that the eduction pipes ofthe. successive sections arel arranged right and 1,25 left, as 'shown in Fig. Pg yOne branch 26 lfor each section'is cmm'ectcd` to thc air supplj,7 branch pipe G and the other branch Q6 f i is closed by a screw plug 27. vFrom the chamber 2G a nozzle connection pipe extends 139 son, the water level rises from that indicated at 6i to that indicated at 62, which is at a height equivalent to the height of one cell above the intermediate valve 31 in the lowerniost' cell. If air is turned on, the lowermost valve 81 opens automatically, but ythe air pressure not being sulicient to overcome the new submergence, the pump would not start with thev valve'. This objection is met bythe extension ofthe air pipe of this valve to the second or intermediate valve 3l, located midway between lower valve 31 and level 61,

' point, the second valve 31 .is in the same condition as formerly was the lowest valve 31, and the third valveBl located at the top of the cell begins to act and, in conjunction with the valve will work the pump for a range of variation of level from 62 to 63 when cell b is entirely flooded, and becomes the initial cell, instead of the cell a. The pump will start, therefore, under all posl sible conditions of wat-er level; an objection might be raised, however, on the ground of excessive air consumption when4 two, and

still more, three valves are blowing simultaneously. That objection is met by the use of the back spring 47 which acts after the effect of spring 48 has ceased. As the submergence increases, the downward motion of the valve continues, and it again closes the port while t-he two upper valves alone .are in action. The object of the two springs i7 and 48 is therefore to tend to hold the valve into an intermediate'operative position under the proper bala-nce of air pressure and water pressure, and to move the valve to close the same on departure either way from this condition of balance, the valve moving upwardly against the spring 48 when the air pressure is in excess, for eX- ample,`before the cells are primed and moving downiwirdly against the spring 47 under the excess air pressure when the submergence exceeds the height of one cell. The operation of the `pump is therefore entirely automatic: it readily appears that any cell may, "ina few moments, be disconnected from the cellsabove and below it, and .ifrom the air main after.\the supply thereof has beenv revi'ously shut-"ott, unions 39 being provi ed for the air connections 6. As each. cell iestso'n the frame by means of an le yriveted to shell 3 at its ends, t edisconnected shell may be shoved sidewise, its air pipe disconnected, the row of valves 31 pulled out through the top of pipe 12, cleaned or changed and the cell slid back into place without touching the rest of the pump.

The form of the invention shown in Figs.

8 to 16 is specially adapted to cases where lthe space is limited, as in the case of a well -where there lis no space for lthe passage of an air supply pipe external to the casing and it becomes "necessary or desirable to -utilize the space within the casing itself as a means for air supply-l The well casing is formed in a plurality of sections detachably connected to form a column, each section comprising an outer shell or casing4 member 65 and an inner shell 66, said shells being fastened to upper and lower heads 67, 68, so

as tovform an intervening space 69 which serves as the air conveying space, and two eduction pi e570, 71 are provided within the inner s ell 61, said inner shell being made of elliptical forni, as shown in Fig. 11. Each inner pipe 71 extends nearly to the bottom of each sect-ion,- as shown in the upper section at the right hand of Fig. 10 and at its upper end extends through the lower head 68 'of the next upper section, as shown at the lower left hand side of Fig. 10, it

being understood that the connections and dispositions of the pi es 70, 7l are alternated riofht and left 1n the successive sections. 'Ihe pipe 70 in each section extends through the lower head 68 of said section and communicates with the upper end of the pipe 7l of the next lower section, the upper end of the pi e 7 Oterminating short of the upper end o the section, as shown at the lower right hand side of Fig. 10. The upper head 67 of each section has an air discharge opening 72 directly above the open upper end of pipe 70.

To facilitate separation of the sections,

they are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 10, the heads 68, 67 having rabbets or shoulders 7l to match corresponding shoulders on an intermediate ringf76, sai

ring being formed with a vseparable portion 78 fastened by bolts 79. Rubber bands 80 are provided at the matched joint to yseal the same under the action of the air pres sure. A detachable joint is also provided between each pipe 71 and the superacent pipe 70, said pipes having, I'SSPGCYe ya terrules 82, 83, pressed or secured thereint-o with a rubber band 84 sealing the joint between them, said rubber band being clamped b v a split clamp ring 86 fastene by clamp olt 87. By moving the member 78 of the youter ring access may be obtained to the clamI device 86 'to loosen the same,

so that the c amp ring and rubber band vmay r ferrule 83,

be slipped onto sa the up leaving the parts lree for.

spection and repair. vA valve 88 is provided in thel lower head 68 of each section,

-1 ,Said valve performing'the same functions JS'the valve 81,' abovey referred to and compissing a casing with a cylindrical central Abore `90, a slide valve 91 fitting therein, a

, ,stop 92 limiting. the upper movement of the valve, a spring 93 forpressing the valve downwardly, a, spring 94 for pressing the 'valve upwardly, a cross pinor stop means 95 for limiting the downward' movementofthe spring 94, an annular recess 96 around the upper end of the cylindrical space 90 communica-ting by openings 97 with the space above the valve. Sliding valve member 91 is provided with a central recess 99 opening tothe space in the' bottom4 of the i, valve and with a circular portl 100 forcol operation with a circular port 101 inthe n i space 8%),tl1roughl said portsand the outer` vvalve casing to establish connnunication, when the valve` is' compressed, from the chamber 100 and the. passages. to the 67, which top of the'valve, Wherebyvair can, in this v position of the valve, pass through the valve into the eduction pipe 71, the space 99 in the-valve opening into-and communicating with the space 103 between the heads 68, space in turn Y comunicates by a: passage 105 vwith the `external compressed air space 61 aforesaid.y The opera-v tion of this form of the apparatus is identical with that above described 'for the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 7 .y inasmuch, however, as; this form of the invention is particularly intended for locations where the space for lateral support of the sections is limited, and inasmuch as the present system involves the separate support of each section so that any section may be removed at will without interfering with the others, I have provided special means for such impend-4 ent support, consisting of a cablel eX- tending down each side of the outer casing 6,5, said outercasing beingv flattened 'at the portions adjacent the cable to provide room therefor and being clamped or gripped to .the cable by clamping devices 10S, see Fig..

*13, on the upper head of each section,

Means are provided for raising or lowering these cables, not only to lift the-column of sections for'inspection 'or repair, but to enable the column 'to be adjusted 'in height,

according to varying water level, this construction dispensing With the use efe series of valves 31 for each section.' For this purpose the cables 107 `may over pulleys 110 and be connectedto anysuit-able draft mea-ns, not shown, for controlling theheight'of the column of sections. f

alo provide for4 the vertical/adjustment or motion of the sectionsin ladjl'lsting tofdif-v ferent heightsA of Wa-terminE the sumps, 'a tele scopic connection' is preferablyrprovided at the upper fenglvf .theiwvllttheee are@ of the well having a header 112 which conl this yspace atltheupper end of the top-most section communicating by I a lateral discharge, spout 121 with a deliverychute or tronghj122, pivoted at123to said spout and having its outeryend mounted on'roller or other-,means 124, toyenab'le it to adjust itself to the varying heights'of'thc column of' well SeCtlOIS.; i j Wha-t Ieclaimis'r l l 41` ',An airislift' pump comprising a pluralityof cellsgconnected in a vertically extending column,"y said cells being all of substantially thefgsame height and eachk provided `withan .deduction leg and a submergenceleg, said-legs being :connected together in a series comprising alternate downwardly extending ,submergence legs and upwardly extending eduction legs, said eduction legs beingof greaterheight Vthan the submergence legs, `means atthe upper end of each 100 cduction leg. for escape of air therefrom, a supplyy pipe for compressed air extending downwardlyalongside the column of cells, a connectionvfrom ysaid supply pipe to the lowery end of "each` eduction leg, said connec- 105 ,tion provided with means 'for preventing escape of air therefrom into the eduction leg, said-meansy being responsive to the pressure of fluid at the outletA of said connection to permit escape of air into the eduction'leg 110 another f tube 114 extends when the same has become charged with I water.

2. In an air lift pump, a column of cells connected ina series, the lower cell having `an intake and the topmost cell having a discharge, means for independent supply 'of air to each-cell for forcing the water therein to the next-cell, means for escape of air from'each 'cellt'o the outer air after it has performed the liftingoperation, and valve meansin theiair sup ly` connection for each cell for preventingt e escape of Ka-1r except when 'a predeterminedfhead, of water exists in thefcell. f'

3,-, f Inanairlift pump, :aipluralit vof cells'l1'25 connectedv 'in'l aY series to form a eo umm-,an air y supply ,-pip'e, independent connections v'from said to 'the respective cells, an 1n-`- dependentalr; l,escape-1Fmeans :fromff each' cell to the enten" cfffthe supply 13o the valve means,

, sisting of `holding' it in closed position,

Ijacent 4'shell to the lower portion of A supplyv supply connections for the respective cells,-

sa-id valve means. comprising a plurality of valves located at different heights and connected in series, each valve means provided with means for holding it in closed position, and operating under a predetermined head in the cell above the valve means.J

5. An air lift pump adapted under different conditions of immersion ,comprising aplurality of cells connected in series toforni a column, means.for inde- `pimdent supply of compressed air to the respective cells, means forV independent escape of air from the respective cells, valve means connected in the supply connections for the respective cells, said valve means comprising a plurality of valves located ,at ditl'erent heights andA connectedin series, each yvalve means ,provided withmea-ns for v'and operating under a predetermined head inQthe cell above will operate simultaneously or singly under varying conditions of immersion, and means acting on the respective valves for closing 4the same when the head exceeds a predetermined amount.

6. A pneumatic pumping apparatus cona column of sections,l

ing anu air discharge opening at itstop and closed at the bottom, a pipe extending from the upper portion of each shell through the bottom of lsaid shell and the top of the sub sai subjacent shell, on-air supply pipe and connectionthere'from leading into each shell, a nozzle pipe 'communicating with said air connection and extending upwardly within the aforesaid eduction pipe, and a "valve on vsaid nozzle pipeprovided. with outlet means'rdischargingy into the eduction pipe, and ray valve membermovable in said valve to out oil communication through said said valve member comprising a pist-cn operated by the air pressure within the valve t`o move the tion. 'i 'i si sting of a V.each shell, a .nozzle pipe means for independent escape the eduction pipe,

to 'operatewhereby the valve means'v one above, another, each section comprising a shell hav- A prising pressure valve to closed posi- .7., Apnuematic pumping apparatus conv column of sections', one ahovc aIlOthel, each sect-ion comprising iA .a shell" having an air discharge opening at its top extending. i

and closed at the bottom, a pipe another, each vsection vcomprising a shell through the bottom of said shell and the to-p of the Subjacent shell to the lower por` tion of said subjacent shell, an air supply pipe and connection therefrom leadinginto withsaid air supply connection and extending upwardly within the aforesaid eduction 'pipe and 'avalve on said nozzle p ipe provided with outlet means ldischarging into and a valve member mov able in said valve to cut ocommunication through said outlet means, said valve member comprising afpiston operated by the air pressure within the valve to move the valve to closed position, comprising means for communicatingwater pressure from the eduction pipe to the said piston to operate in opposition tothe water,

pressureto move the valve to open positionl when a predetermined head of water exists above the valve.` v

8. A pneumatic pumping apparatus conf sisting of a column of sections, one above another, each section comprising a shell having an air discharge opening at its-top and .closed at the bottom, a pipe extending' from shell through the' the upper portion of each communicating said valve member also 'as i bottom of said shell and the top of the 'subjacent shell to the lower portion of" said subj acent shell, an air nozzle pipe communicating with said air Supply pipe and` wn., nection therefrom leading intoeach shell, n.' f

supply connection and extending upwardly within the aforesaid duction pipe, v4and a valve on ,said nozzle pipe provided with Voutlet means discharging into the eduction pipe and a valvey member movable in said valve4 to cut off communication through said outlet means, said valve member vcomprising a piston operated by the air pres,- sure within the valve t-o move the closed position, said valve member also commeans .for communicating water pressure from the eduction pipe to the said piston to operate in opposition to the water to move the valve to open position when a predetermined head of Water exists above the valve, a spring acting on said valve member in opposition to the water pressure thereon to. allow the valve tobevalve to come closed when the head exceeds rthe prec determined working head.`

9. A' pneumatic pumping apparatus cony a-column 'of sections one above' sisting 'of another, each section Acomprising a shell hav' ing an air discharge opening at its top and closed at the bottom, a pipe extending 'from the upper portion of 'each shell. through the bottomof said'shell kand the top of thesuhjacent shell tothe lower portion of said 'subjacent shelhanfair supply pipe and connec-f tion therefrom :leading in toveach shell', ai.`

nozzlepipecommunicating with vsaid-air supply connection and extending upwardly within the aforesaidleduction pipe anda valve on saidnozzlepipe provided with4 eut-let. means discharging into thel eduction pipe and a 'valve member .movable insaid valve to cut' oi communicatlon through said outlet means, said valvemember comprising v a piston operated by the airl pressure within the valve to move the 'valve to closed potion, said valve member-valso comprising means for communicating Water pressure vrom'the eduction pipe to the said piston to cperated'in opposition to the air pressure to .move the valve to open position when a predetermined head of water exists above *che valve, and a spring acting on said valve .member in opposition to the air pressure to move the valve to open position.l

` lil. 'In an air lift pump, a column of cells connected in a seres,' the lower cell having an intake andthe topmostl cell having .a discharge, means for independent ,supply of air to each cell -for'forcing therwatertherein to the next cell, means for escape vof air from each .cell to the outer air after it'has per-A for-ined the lifting operationx and valve means in the air supply connection for each cell for preventing t e escape of air except when a predetermined head of water exists in the cell, said valve comprising a, casing formed with a. cylindrical' chamber and having nozgzlcfoutlets Afor supply of air to the cell', apiston slidable in said cylindrical chambelgnieans for admitting air pressure from the air supply means to one side of saidl piston, means for admitting Water pressure from the cell to theother side of said piston, said` iston and casing having ports for establishing. communication from the air supply to the said nozzle outlets in an intermediatel position of the piston and for ,cu-te ting off lsuch communication when at either .side of said position and spring means operating oppositely on' said piston.

In testimony `whereof, I have-hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 23rddayy of .J une 1909.

ADAM EDWARD C HODZKO.

In presence of- ARTHUR P. KNIGHT,

FRANK L. A. GRAHAM. 

